Used Car Finance

Buying a used car in Toronto makes a lot of sense today since the costs for new cars continue to increase and many people cannot afford to buy one. If you think that your income is not high enough to purchase a new car, then you can settle for a used car. But before you buy one, you have to decide first if you can buy it on a cash basis or if you need used car financing in Toronto to purchase it.

If you can pay cash for the total cost, there will be no problem. However, if you need car financing, you have to look for a reliable car financing company or lending institution that offers the lowest interest rates.

There are credit unions and local banks that are willing to finance the needed amount so you can purchase a used car with an annual percentage rate of only 1.9 percent. But you have to remember that this can only happen during the first year. Without prior notice, the interest rates can go higher, which can be very inconvenient for you, especially if your income is fixed every year. This is why you have to be very careful in choosing the lender who will finance your used car purchase; otherwise, you might spend more than what you can afford.

If you need to purchase a used car and you are short of budget, used car financing is indeed the best solution for you. But keep in mind that it is better to get a car loan in Toronto from a lending institution than from your Collection of Fine Cars, your used import dealer in Toronto. You can ask information from someone who has already obtained used car financing so you can also purchase a used car at the best price and interest rates. After all, it is your hard-earned money that is at stake here.

Finding The Car That Is Just Right

When the time comes to get a new, or at least new to you, car there are things that should go into the decision making. Your needs may have changed since the last time you purchased a car. Have you gotten married since you bought that cool sports car you are now driving? Is a family in your immediate future? Once you decide what type of car you want, what’s next?

If safety is something you consider before purchasing a car, do your research. The internet is your friend and has a lot of information from both the federal government testing and non-profit testing on the safety of different cars on the market. If you are looking at used cars in Toronto, they will have information on those as well. There are also websites and some car dealerships that will provide a history of repairs and possible accidents in which a car may have been involved. Use all means available to you to make the most informed choice.

If you are not paying cash for your new car, how much of a car payment can you afford? How much of a down payment will you have? And have you gotten prequalified for a loan? If you have this all figured out before you walk onto a showroom floor it will save you a lot of grief. How disappointing it is to fall in love with the perfect car just to find out you can’t buy it. No car you pick after that is going to seem as good. Let the salesperson know what you can afford and be firm.

Most dealerships have websites now that will allow you to look at the stock they have available. This is likely to include both new and used cars in Toronto on their lots. If you don’t want to buy from a dealership there are ads from local newspapers and television stations on the internet as well. All are good resources and will save you time and gas driving from car lot to car lot.

Another good resource is family and friends. Talk to them and see if anyone has had a particularly good or bad experience in purchasing a car. This may help you avoid pitfalls and may give you a good direction to go in. Buying a car, especially if it is your first, can be an emotional experience. Try not to get yourself so focused on just one particular car that you miss out on a better car or better deal. Take a friend or family member with you as a second pair of eyes and ears. They may see or hear things that you miss.

Unless money is not an issue for you, buying a new car can be a major investment. You may find that buying a new car over a used car in Toronto will actually be less expensive in the long run. Many manufacturers are now offering free regular maintenance on their cars for a number of years. If you had to pay for this yourself you may decide to wait because of the cost. And by waiting you may be putting more wear and tear on the car. Take all of this into consideration before you make your final decision.

How to Find the Right Used Import

Buying a used car is not necessarily an easy process. You may know that you need to buy a used car, but finding the right one can take some time – and it may require you to do some serious research into what is available and for what prices.

In order to find the right used car in Toronto for your needs, it is important that you know what it is that you need to think about. We are happy to provide each of our customers with a sort-of checklist of things that they need to think about – and will help our customers to determine which used cars are best for them. Here are some of the things that we’d like to encourage you to think about when it’s time for you to buy a used car:

Define your needs

When it comes to buying a used car in Toronto, many of our customers already know exactly what their needs are. For example, some customers may just want a used car that can get them safely to and from work. However, other customers have more specific needs, such as the need to transport the entire family or the need to be able to tow a boat or other large item. Make a list of all of the needs that you have from your used car so that you can get a better understanding of exactly where you need to begin your used car search.

Decide what options you want

Many people are able to include a list of options or features that they want from the used car that they buy. Some of these options may come along with the car. Other options may have to be purchased separately in addition to the used car. For example, if you want to haul large items, you may have to select a used car that has a tow package. However, this may be more of an option than a necessity – and it could be an expensive option.

Think about your budget

Your budget is important when it comes to buying a used import in Toronto. Not only do you need to be sure that you can afford to make your down payment on the used car, but if you are going to take out a loan for the car, you also need to be sure that you can afford the monthly loan repayments. Therefore, be sure that you are comfortable with your budget before you buy your used car.

Contact us today for more information about what you should look out for when buying a used import in Toronto.

Reliable Used Cars – The Best Used Cars You Can Buy

 

When buying a used car in Toronto one of the most important factors that consumers consider is reliability. You sure don’t want to spend your hard earned money on something that will break down and need costly repairs. If you’re in the market for a used vehicle, here is a list of the best reliable used cars in Toronto you can buy.

This list is taken from Consumer Reports which rates cars on multiple years of reliability from 1999 to 2008. This data is taken from the Annual Auto Survey on more than 1.4 million new and used cars in Toronto  in which owners reported on serious problems with vehicles in the previous year. According to the survey results, here are the best ones to look for.

Small Cars

#1 Honda Civic – This car is both reliable and economical to drive. The redesign in 2001 saw its popularity grow even larger and in 2003 the hybrid model was introduced. The redesign in 2006 included standard anti lock brakes, curtain air bags and owners report that the ride is even better than before.

Next Best Choices

  • Toyota Echo
  • Scion xB
  • Toyota Corolla
  • Toyota Matrix
  • Pontiac Vibe
  • Mazda3
  • Mazda Protege
  • Subaru Impreza

Family Cars 

#1 Honda Accord – This car has been a top choice for years. The redesign in 2003 made this car more agile and even quieter plus standard anti lock brakes were added.

Next Best Choices

  • Toyota Prius
  • Ford Fusion
  • Mercury Milan
  • Toyota Camry (except ’08 V6)
  • Subaru Outback (6 cyl.)
  • Nissan Altima

Upscale Cars 

#1 Lexus ES – This quiet and comfortable car has tested reliable for many years. In 2004 a stronger more fuel efficient engine was added.

Next Best Choices

  • Lexus IS
  • Toyota Avalon
  • Acura TSX
  • Lincoln MKZ, Zephyr (FWD)
  • Infiniti G20
  • Acura TL
  • Infiniti I30, I35
  • Infiniti G35 (Sedan)
  • Volvo S60
  • Buick Lucerne (V8)
  • Nissan Maxima

Luxury Cars 

#1 Infiniti M35 – This car has been on the list of reliable vehicles since 2003. The redesign in 2006 added more comfort to this well built car.

Next Best Choices

  • Lexus LS
  • Lexus GS (6 cyl., RWD)
  • Acura RL

Sports and Sporty Cars 

#1 Mazda Miata – This car gets points for reliability, easy handling, good performance and affordability.

Next Best Choices

  • Lexus SC
  • Honda S2000
  • Toyota Camry Solara
  • Acura RSX
  • Toyota Celica
  • Scion tC
  • BMW Z3, Z4
  • Acura Integra
  • Porsche Boxster
  • BMW M3
  • Subaru Impreza WRX/STi
  • Ford Mustang (V6)
  • Nissan 350Z

Minivans 

#1 – Toyota Sienna – The 2003 redesign gave this reliable vehicle more power and more room, and is also available with AWD.

Next Best Choice

  • Honda Odyssey

Small SUVs – Toyota RAV4 – This vehicle has been reliable since it was first introduced in 1996. The 2001 redesign brought more power plus more room inside and in 2006 an available third row was added. 

Next Best Choices

  • Honda CR-V
  • Subaru Forester
  • Mitsubishi Outlander

Midsized and Large SUVs 

#1 – Honda Pilot – Since first introduced in 2003 this vehicle has had excellent crash test results and reliability. There is plenty of room in this fuel efficient vehicle and it also has flexible seating for eight.

Next Best Choices

  • Toyota Highlander
  • Lexus RX
  • Toyota Land Cruiser
  • Toyota 4Runner
  • Infiniti FX35
  • Acura MDX
  • Infiniti QX4
  • Lexus GX
  • Hyundai Santa Fe
  • Subaru Tribeca
  • Nissan Xterra (’05-’08)
  • Toyota Sequoia

Pickup Trucks 

#1 – Honda Ridgeline – This vehicle delivers all you need in a truck but handles and rides like a sedan. It has an in-bed, weather-tight lockable trunk and a smooth V6 engine.

Next Best Choices

  • Toyota Tacoma (’05-’08)
  • Toyota Tundra
  • Subaru Baja
  • Nissan Frontier (’05-’08)

 

If you are looking for a quailty used car, Collection of Fine Cars, your used import dealer in Toronto, has a huge inventory, sure to suit not only your lifestyle, but your budget! Visit us today!

 

How to Care for Your Used Import Car

Every week, we sell dozens of used cars in North York to customers with the expectation that those used cars will be durable enough to last for many years to come. After all, before we ever put a used car on the lot, we make sure that our experienced technicians have completely inspected the used car to ensure that it is in the best possible condition.

However, there are a few tips that we’d like to encourage our customers to become familiar with in order to ensure that they maintain their used cars as well as possible. While we can prevent and address many of the most common issues that arise with used cars, it’s always best for the life of the car if our customers are able to maintain them as well as possible on their own.

Here are a few tips that we suggest our customers follow when caring for their used cars in Vaughan:

Be a “good” driver

The definition of a good driver varies from person to person, but most of our customers would agree that a good driver is courteous to others on te road and maintains a fairly even highway speed to avoid antagonizing other drivers. When you start and slow your engine a lot – either on the highway or in city driving, you’re adding stress to the engine, transmission, and differential. You can also do some damage of the brake pedal that will decrease its life expectancy. We recommend using cruise control as often as possible and accelerating or decelerating at an even speed as much as possible.

Forget things tend to fade away

While this adage may be good for some things in life, it’s not so good for car components. If you spend an entire summer without turning on your heater, chances are good that you may have a couple of issues with your heater when winter comes. While we certainly don’t recommend blasting your heater all summer, we do recommend turning it on once or twice during the season – just to give it a primer. The same thing goes for your air conditioning, four wheel drive systems, parking brakes, and all other parts of your car. Use them to avoid losing them!

Start slow

This is especially helpful during cold weather driving – start your engine slowly to help it warm up before you take off down the road. You need to make sure the oil pumps through the entire engine before taking it off for a drive in order to improve its life and effectiveness.

Contact Collection of Fine Cars, your used import dealer in North York today  at www.collectionfinecars.com for more information about how you can keep your used car running better longer!

What is an Interest Rate and How Does it Impact a Car Loan?

If you are like many of our customers, you are going to be taking out a car loan in Toronto in order to afford your new or used car. When you take out a car loan, you will need to pay an interest rate on top of that car loan. The interest rate can be very complicated for many of our customers to understand – especially for those customers that are just taking out a loan for the first time. Here’s some more information about interest rates that may help to shed some light on a rather complication car loan in Scarborough component:

They are normal

Whenever you take out a loan of any type, it is highly likely that you will have to pay interest on that loan. Interest is the amount of money that you give to the lender in exchange for the car loan. It may help to think about interest as the lender’s “interest” in the arrangement. While we all may wish that lenders would lend us money out of the good of their own hearts, it’s not practical for any lender – even family members – to lend money without charging something for the arrangement. Interest is generally very small compared to the amount of the entire loan.

Interest rates vary

It’s rare for two people to get the same interest rate for the same amount of money – even on the same day and with very similar circumstances. Interest rates vary a great deal depending on a wide variety of factors. Those factors include the general economic conditions, a person’s credit history and credit score, specials that are going on at the dealership, the loan amount, the duration of the loan, and more. Therefore, you can expect for your interest rate to be different than someone else’s.

Interest is based on the entire loan amount

Interest is a percentage of the entire loan. You can often either get a fixed interest rate or a variable interest rate. It’s wise to have one of our lenders explain how both of these loan options may impact you and your loan before you decide which loan options to choose. You’ll repay the interest as you repay the principal loan amount each month and may not even be aware of the interest repayment (again – it’s generally rather small compared to the loan amount).

We’re happy to discuss interest with you. Contact Collection of Fine Cars, your used import dealer in Toronto today for more information about interest and our loan programs.

Save Money By Understanding Your Used Car

 

When it comes to saving money on your used car in Richmond Hill, one of the biggest places where you can make an impact is by understanding your car. When you understand how to fix small repairs in your car and when you need to take your car to a shop, you’ll not only save money on service, but you’ll also have peace of mind.

Keep in mind that if your used car in North York is covered under your warranty, you should always feel comfortable bringing it into the shop – regardless of whether or not you feel that the issue is a big one or not. We always encourage our customers to be as careful and safe as possible. That being said, it’s important to know what you can fix on your own.

Oil Changes

Many of our customers enjoy changing their oil on their own – even when they can bring their car into the shop. You should change your oil once every 3,000 miles, which may be about once every three months, depending on how much you drive your car. We recommend that you speak with one of our mechanics in order to learn how to change your oil on your own. And always make sure that you follow every possible safety precaution.

Listen for Noises

There are many noises in the engine of a car that can be correlated to different things. Some of these noises are normal. Other noises, however, can indicate that something may be going wrong. For example, if you hear a clicking when you turn your wheel, you may have a loose or cracked axel that needs attention. If you hear a squeal, it may be time to change a hose or a belt.

Check the Engine Parts

There are several parts of your engine that you should check regularly to make sure that they are in tip-top shape. By checking your engine regularly, you’ll be able to avoid potentially hazardous and costly repairs down the road. For example, you should check your belts regularly by pressing down on them. If they crack or give by more than half an inch, have them checked out by a profession. When you squeeze your belts, they should not be sticky or crack. If they do crack, have them checked out immediately.

By understanding your car and taking small steps to maintain it, you’ll be able to save money off of the cost of service. Contact Collection of Fine Cars, your used car dealer in Toronto today at www.collectionfinecars.com  to learn more about our service plans and warranty programs that may also help you save money.

How to Get an Auto Loan With Any Credit Score

 

Credit scores go a long way in determining what kind of interest rate you might be able to expect on your auto loan in Toronto. Those buyers with a good credit score can expect to have a lower interest rate and a higher loan amount than those buyers that get auto loans with bad credit. However, there are many advantages ot getting a bad credit auto loan – including the fact that a bad credit auto loan may be able to help improve your credit.

Here are a few things that you need to know about getting an auto loan in Toronto with any credit score:

Credit scores make an impact

When it comes to securing an auto loan, your credit score will make an impact. Your credit score is an accumulation of your credit history. If you have a good credit score (one over 700), chances are greatly improved that you will be able to qualify for a good auto loan. Generally speaking, a good auto loan is one in which you will be able to get a high loan amount with a small interest rate. Therefore, people with good credit scores are often able to get more advantageous auto loans. However, we offer auto loans to all of our customers – even those customers with bad credit or no credit.

Bad credit auto loans in Toronto can improve credit

Because credit scores are based on your credit history and current financial situation, you can help to improve your credit score by making wise financial decisions now. One way to make a great wise financial decision is to take out an auto loan that you then repay on time and in full. When you do so, future creditors will notice that you have a history of being financially responsible and will be more likely to extend a good credit car loan to you. Remember: 35 percent of your credit score is comprised of your payment history.

Get an auto loan today

If is possible to get an auto loan on the same day that you apply – especially when you use our simple online services. You can get started with this loan process by applying for an auto loan online through our secure server. We’ll review your loan application and contact you with options right away!

We look forward to helping you get the best auto loan for your needs to make buying the right car easier than ever. Contact Collection of Fine Cars, you used car dealer in Toronto today to get started!

Narrowing Down the Used Car Search

With so many used cars in Toronto on the market, it can be difficult to know exactly which used car is right for you. After all, when you buy a used car, you can expect to have that used car for years to come. Therefore, it is worth it to take some time to do your research and narrow down your search until you’ve found exactly the right used car for all of your needs.

Here are our tips to help you narrow down the used car search:

Browse the Highways

Many people start their used car searches by looking around at other cars while they are on the highways. Looking around at other cars will not only help to ensure that you are looking at used cars (most cars on the highway are older model cars), but it will also give you a great idea of what types of styles are available.

Make a List

Once you have a basic idea of what kind of used cars suit your preferences, make a list of all of the features that you want. These features may be practical, such as a need for expanded cargo space. They may also be fun, such as a plug for your iPod.

Visit Dealership

The next step you should take is to visit dealerships. Dealerships will not only have professionals that specialize in their knowledge of used cars and the features that come with them, but dealers may also be able to suggest features and things that you may not have previously thought of. Make sure that you spend some time looking through different cars, even if the cars are out of your price range. After all, knowledge is the key to making the right decision.

Test Drive the Cars on Your Short List

Once you have determined which cars come closest to meeting all of your needs, take some time to test drive them. You might be surprised by how well one car drives or by how poorly another car drives. Everyone is different, so the test drive is one of the most important steps in finding the right car.

Get Financing

Finally, once you know which used car in Scarborough is right for you, apply for financing. Many people apply for financing early on, and that’s okay too. Financing will help to ensure that you can afford the used car.

Contact us today to learn more about how to buy the right used car in North York for your needs.

3 Ways Buying Used Cars from Us Can Save You Money

When you buy a used car in Toronto, chances are good that you are looking for the best rate on the used car. What’s more: you may also be looking for ways to save even more money once you actually own the used car. Here are a few ways to save money when you buy a used car that you may enjoy:

Lower taxes and insurance

When you buy a used car in Scarborough, you will have lower taxes and insurance than you would have if you were to buy a new car. Therefore, when you buy a used car, your insurance and taxes will cost less for the life of the car. Depending on where you live and your driving record, this can save you a significant amount of money over the life of the car for years to come.

Special rates

When you work with our dealership to buy your used car in Richmond Hill, you can not only get amazing rates on your used car purchase, but we also are always on the lookout for programs that may help our customers to save even more money. These special programs may help to lower your annual interest rate on a car loan or they may help to offer cash back on your used car when you buy it from us. Remember: you can also save money when you buy a used car from us if you trade in a vehicle that you currently own.

Lower repair costs

Often, customers that need to make repairs on older model cars can get better repair and service rates. This is because you can often find the materials you’re looking for at better rates from a used car. For example, if you need to repair the hood of your used car because you have scratched it, you can often find a used car hood that matches your car’s color. The cost of a used hood is generally cheaper than the cost of a new hood.

We are always looking for new ways to help our customers get the best possible financial arrangements that will make it easy for them to buy the right used cars for their needs. If you are looking for ways to save money by buying a used car, take time to look over the used cars in our inventory and get in touch with us to find out more about our used car financing programs. We look forward to working with you! Visit us today at www.collectionfinecars.com

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INFORMATION

Founded in 1994, The Collection of Fine Cars Inc. has grown to be one of Toronto’s premiere pre-owned automotive dealerships